Ilia Gruev inspires Bremen: Ex-Werder star talks about his Premier League days!

Ilia Gruev inspires Bremen: Ex-Werder star talks about his Premier League days!

An exciting chapter in Ilia Gruev's career has begun. The Bulgarian native, born on May 6, 2000, made the leap from Werder Bremen to Leeds United in the summer of 2023, thereby taking a significant step in his sporting career. The transfer fee for the talented defensive midfielder was around 6.5 million euros. The player, who previously spent eight years at SV Werder Bremen, sought and mastered a new challenge in the English Premier League.

Moving abroad was an exciting journey for Gruev. During a break in the game, he recently visited Bremen and spoke emotionally about his time there. “I learned a lot here and made wonderful memories,” said Gruev, who went through all of Werder’s youth teams until he signed his first professional contract in April 2019. In 62 competitive games for the Bremen professionals, he experienced their promotion back to the Bundesliga in 2022 first hand.

The challenges in the Premier League

In the Premier League, the Bulgarian took his first steps as a player for Leeds United. He has made 13 appearances in the league so far and is in a not-so-comfortable 16th place with his team after 22 match days. “The Premier League is a league with high quality and great attention,” says Gruev, describing the demands placed on him and his team. Despite initial difficulties finding his way into the first team, he adapted quickly.

His time at Leeds was not entirely easy. After an injury that required surgery for meniscus damage, he returned as a substitute in the FA Cup in January 2025. But he had already proven himself to be a valuable part of the team. In the play-off semi-final he scored his first goal of the season with a fine free-kick against Norwich City - a moment that would demonstrate his continued development.

Contacts and support

The connection to his former teammates from Bremen remains strong. Gruev maintains contact with Leo Bittencourt, Romano Schmid and Amos Pieper, who accompanied him during his time in Bremen. These friendships give him the support he needs to continue to perform in the current league. “It’s important to talk to old friends and exchange ideas,” emphasizes Gruev, who is now doing his best in the English league.

With an exciting mix of talent, ambition and healthy self-confidence, Ilia Gruev is well prepared to gain a foothold in the Premier League. His career so far and the new challenge in England show that he has a good hand for his career. Fans and followers remain excited about the young kicker's next steps. Those interested can find further information in the detailed reports from Dike room and up Wikipedia.